Anno Exitium…
CVLT Nation Interviews Gallery

The stench is blowing in the air & Gallery is blasting out of my speakers…life is crust. This Los Angeles band are masters of the Apocalyptic Blues; their music is beyond epic to me & their album, Anno Exitium, is the perfect blend of rotten crust, putrefied blues & murder sludge. Gallery also deals with some thought-provoking themes lyrically, which is super in my book. So today, CVLT Nation would like to share with you a sick interview with Gallery. After the jump, get your waltz of damnation on & enjoy the interview!

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What up Gallery…how are things in your world?

Very busy, new doors are constantly opening and closing. Been living in a near state of chaos in which you don’t really know where to turn. Its not so much of a fear but kind of an eager anticipation of what is next to come…



After seeing you perform at the Blvd., I coined the term “Apocalyptic Blues” for the kind of music you play. Do you agree with this description of your sound, & if so why?

I think its a very apt description and quite catchy! Consider the Greek “Apokálypsis”, or a “lifting of the veil”. The world follows a series of cyclical creations and destructions. Perhaps the impending doom everyone is going on about, what with the Rapture, Mayan calendrical termination, and other assorted nonsense, I’m hoping we are given a new beginning rather than an end… or at least I try to stay positive. Hell it beats out The Internet’s definition, online we’re Blackened Anarcho Sludge Doom Stench-Hardcore Stoner Crust Metal (whew what a mouthful), so I can appreciate the succinctness of your classification! [laughs] As for what I would call us? We prefer the simple “Slench”. Everyone we speak to has a different idea and its great to see that kind of divergence.



At what point in your life did you realize that creating music was something you had to do for your sanity?

Music certainly keeps me out of trouble…It feels like being in an altered state during our performances, something I could never achieve in the same way I did in other bands. There’s really no better release for me than pounding on a bass or guitar and screaming away all the bullshit in your life. Once its over all that negativity has melted away, its a great feeling



What would you say are the biggest inspirations for what Gallery creates?

Think you nailed it with blues, especially that thick southern rock sound… that’s one we don’t hear too often.

Your songs have loud political overtones, were you brought up in political households? At what age did you guys start finding your political voices?

I just never clicked with what was going on in the world or very many people in it. I think I found my voice for that around 11-12 years old listening to Dead Kennedys, I thought “what a fantastic band, these guys are speaking some real shit, I want to do this”. With Gallery I wanted to speak out against things pathological and historically systemic to mankind as a whole and not particular issues which may or may not lack relevance in 20 years time.



While you were creating Anno Exitium, what were things you wanted to achieve with this album & get across to your fans?

I think for me it was “hey we’re still here, thank you so much for your support”. Really wanted to iron out the issues we had with the first demo and deliver something truly worthy, and we really put our all into it this time. Robert also came along and helped fully complete the original demo, which evolved into Anno Exitium. Of all the projects I have been involved in to date, this was the best thing I helped create.



When listening to your records, I hear the raging guitars & pounding drums that I usually dig, but underneath there are layers of Doomy chaos and other unnerving emotions. How do you achieve this layered sound?

Good question…not too sure myself. I think it helps that one of us will trip off and do something different from the others in a song, gives the music a fluidity that I never really experienced jamming with other bands, at least to the degree we do it. Anno was a very base recording, with just a few guitar tracks, bass, 2 vocal tracks and drums. We were on time and money constraints but Patrick and Sean of Suffering Luna (who did the recording) did a really good job and were a positive guiding force in the making of the record.



What messages are you trying to convey with your use of sampling & what purpose do your samples serve in your music?

I added the samples to either set the atmosphere or really drive the point of the song home. Though I try not to overdo it, sometimes it gets old hearing a clip on every track and I wanted to avoid going that far with it. The old man from “War Drums” and “Man-Made God” really helped inspire those songs lyrically, years before I wrote them, so I think he deserved a place there. “Immortal Blade” we did just cause it sounded cool to us (don’t think anyone else tried percussive swords?), and was a natural fit as the song is about an immortal ronin cursed to wander the earth, and in the song you hear him hacking away at the next victim…



Who do you see as your musical peers in Los Angeles?

Pessimist from Montebello, chill dudes dope music.



Is writing lyrics a collective effort, or does one person take the lead?

Chris wrote the lyrics for “Reflections” and most of the music. I mainly do the lyrics and the occasional arrangement. Definitely more of a collaborative effort between everyone as we forge the songs, everyone brings something to the table and I don’t think there’s a real “leader” in any sense of the word.



Tell CVLT Nation readers what the unifying element was that led you guys to form Gallery?

Love of Sludge music, for sure.



If you could travel back in time & perform with Gallery for a different audience, what point of history would you chose?

I’d be down to go to the South in the 1950s, do a show with BB King, start a riot, fuck up a bunch of racist ass cops, then escape in the time machine.



Has the internet played a positive role in spreading the message of Gallery?

Hammer of the Gods, drive our riffs to new lands…I appreciate the Internet since its carried our music across the world and back, and has opened us up to positive feedback and criticism that has really helped us to develop our sound. Without it we never would have had the same impact. Also a Shout Out to Gazz in the UK, we’ve taken part in 2 of his ‘Fuck Corporate Wank’ comps, whose proceeds go to victims of the Haiti Earthquake and the recent Japan disaster, respectively. With the internet and its awesome community of people working together we all can achieve anything. The internet is a tool of change and revolution, and it is the key to bring humanity to a common ground around the world.

For the reader: if you ever see us at a gig and like us enough, do support your local band, we carry physical copies of our releases and buying one really goes a long way in keeping us going. Mail order works too. 7$ for the record with postage paid. I also have two CD copies of the first demo available as well, for any collectors out there. Drop us a line at gallerysluge@gmail.com and we’ll ship one your way!



Any closing thoughts?…we at CVLT Nation would like to say thanx!

And a sincere thanks to you! Stay free, stay downtuned!